1. Scalability:
An important feature for small business phone systems is being able to scale. As your business grows you need to be able to have a cloud based phone system that grows and expands with you. Looking for systems that allow you to add or remove lines and extensions easily is an important feature. The flexibility of allowing and being able to scale your phone system ensures that your system can adapt to the changing needs of your business.
2. Cost-effective:
Small businesses often operate on tight budgets, therefore cost-effectiveness of any system that a business implements is vital and a key consideration. As a business owner, you need to be able to compare the initial setup costs, monthly fees, and maintenance expenses of different phone systems. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) systems, often offer lower costs compared to more traditional landlines, making them an attractive option for new businesses.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) allows businesses to make and receive phone calls using an internet connection instead of using traditional phone lines. VOIP technology allows and enables the conversion of voice into digital signals which these digital signals are transmitted over the internet and converts them back into sound at the receiving end. The benefits of this are that it reduces costs for long-distance and international calls, and it additionally offers advanced features such as voicemail to email, call forwarding, and integration with business applications, providing flexibility and scalability.
3. Reliability and Uptime:
Having a reliable phone system is vital for maintaining effective communication with customers and colleagues. Ensure that you look for systems that offer high uptime guarantees and have a reputation for reliability. This will ensure that your business communications are not interrupted by frequent technical issues or outages.
4. Quality of your calls:
Clear and consistent call quality is vital for professional communication. Evaluate the call quality of different phone systems by doing your research and reading reviews and, if possible, testing the system for yourself, to determine if it meets your business goals. Systems with VoIP make use of advanced technology to ensure high-quality voice calls, reducing the likelihood of dropped calls or poor audio quality.
5. Integration with other tools:
Modern businesses rely on a variety of tools and software to operate more efficiently and effectively. Your phone system should be able to integrate seamlessly with other tools that you use daily, therefore being able to incorporate your phone system into your daily tools allows for more seamless integration and allows workflows and enhances productivity.
6. Advanced features:
Opting for a phone system that offers advanced features to enhance your business operations, some features can include:
- Voicemail to email
- Auto-attendant
- Call recording
- Mobile integration
7. Customer support
Having reliable customer support is essential when dealing with any technology. Opting for a phone system provider that offers excellent customer support, multiple support channels, and comprehensive online resources. Having a customer support option ensures that any issues are resolved quickly and efficiently.
8. Security:
Protecting your business communications is vital therefore being able to ensure that the phone system that you use offers robust security features, such as encryption, secure data storage, and regular security updates.
9. Ease of Use:
A cloud-based phone system should be easy to use, allowing your team to operate it without extensive training. The user-friendly interface and intuitive controls of cloud-based systems ensure that employees can quickly adapt to the new technology, minimizing downtime and enhancing productivity. Features such as simple call management, automated directories, and easy access to voicemail and call history contribute to a seamless user experience. This ease of use ensures that team members can focus on their core tasks rather than spending time learning and troubleshooting the phone system.
10. Remote Work Capabilities:
With the increase of remote work, having a phone system that supports this is more important than ever, therefore having and implementing systems that allow employees to make and receive calls from anywhere on any device is a new necessity.
Choosing the right phone system you will need to consider the various features that will enhance your business’s communication and support your business’s growth. Being able to focus on certain features such as scalability, cost-effectiveness, reliability, call quality, integration, and some advanced features are essential when considering a phone system.
By Gary Bernstein